2025 Kia EV3

Electric SUV · Single-Motor Electric · FWD

76/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a electric suv is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	Single-Motor Electric
Horsepower	201 hp
Torque	188 lb-ft
0–60 mph	7.7 sec
Top speed	104 mph
Drivetrain	FWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	87 mpg (92 city / 83 hwy)
Range	270 miles
MSRP	$35,900
Body style	Electric SUV

The verdict

What's good

Flat floor design creates genuinely spacious interior for the footprint
800V charging architecture supports faster DC top-up than most rivals
Strong residual value trajectory on par with Hyundai stablemates
Kia's in-car tech interface is among the most intuitive in the segment

What's not

FWD-only limits traction confidence in snow without winter tires
Real-world range in cold climates can fall noticeably below EPA figure
Kia EV service infrastructure still expanding in some regions
Regen paddle tuning feels abrupt at higher settings for new EV drivers

The engine

E-GMP

Single-Motor Electric FWD

A single front-mounted permanent-magnet synchronous motor gives these compact Kias brisk, quiet front-wheel-drive urban punch (around 201 hp) prioritizing efficiency and range over outright thrills.

The newer EV3 rides on Kia's dedicated E-GMP electric platform (shared with Hyundai and Genesis), succeeding the earlier Niro EV which used a more conventional multi-platform layout.

The EV3 moves to a purpose-built EV platform and packs up to an 81.4 kWh battery, a big jump over the Niro EV's roughly 65 kWh pack.
Despite the power bump in EV chassis, this layout keeps drive to the front wheels rather than adding a rear motor.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 76 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
All 5 trims with pricing
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault